Happy birthday, Hinagiku-san.
H-Hayate-kun?
I wondered very much what would be best for your sixteenth birthday present.
Th-Thank you.
And after much thought...
...my present to you is...
Well, you all knew it was a dream.
That was a...
...very imprudent dream.
Seriously... What's gotten into me every night?
The birthday of the girl who's waking up to distress is close.
I think something's been wrong with me lately.
I've been thinking of a certain boy every night.
Perhaps because of that...
I've been spacing out about a lot of things, and I've been feeling a little restless.
I've never experienced something like this before.
Could this be...
Love?
TLnote: The words for "love" and "carp" have the same sound, "koi".
Never!!!
Never! It can't be!
It can't possibly be!
But I have to admit I've been thinking of him.
And if there is one thing that really makes me think of him...
...then it's this.
Hey, Onee-chan. Where are Dad and Mom?
If there is a reason why I think of him...
Hey, it's Hinagiku-san.
You're pretty good to sneak up on me from behind.
You're not the sniper of unknown nationality, you know?
You two are heading home pretty late today.
Yes.
Milady was tutoring me in the study room.
Tutoring?
Are your grades that bad, Ayasaki-kun?
Yes. Embarrassingly enough, I'm on the verge of not advancing to the next grade.
Hey, are you really all right?
Isn't that pretty bad?
Yes, it really is.
I'm not all right at all.
What should I do?
What... You're asking me?
Why do I even dream of him every night?
Here I am thinking of him all the time because of all the dreams I'm having and...
Gosh darn, this guy... Why won't you...
Get your act together, will you?!
Hayate! Did you do something to her again?
I don't recall having done anything to her, but I may have.
I think I have!
I mean, I must have!
Anyway!
If you fail to advance to the next grade, I won't forgive you.
Do I make myself clear?
Y-Yes.
Milady. This is only my hunch, but...
I think I'll be in trouble if I don't do something.
Y-Yeah, you're right.
May I go apologize to her?
Sure, but...
For what?
I-I don't know.
I don't know, but...
As a man, I will think of what to apologize for after I get down on my knees!
Hayate is saying a really lame thing with a really cool look!
It must be my imagination.
I can't be thinking of Hayate-kun.
If there is something that I am thinking of...
Hinagiku-san.
Ayasaki-kun?
Oh, ah, um...
If there is something I'm bothered by, it's this.
Hey, Ayasaki-kun. Can I ask you one thing?
What is it?
How did it feel when your parents shoved their debt on you and ran away?
How did I feel?
Well... That they're horrible parents.
Like, you won't find good-for-nothings like them anywhere else.
I guess they fail as people.
Did you...
Did you ever think there might have been a reason?
A reason?
Yes. They were so kind, and yet they disappeared all of a sudden.
There had to be a reason that forced them to...
A reason...
There can't be one.
Even if there was one, it doesn't change the fact that they ran away.
You're right.
I'm sorry for asking something strange.
What kind of answer was I hoping for?
There was no point in hearing anything.
At this moment, the boy thought there was something he had to tell her with all his might.
He thought everything might end if he didn't say it now.
That is why-
Hinagiku-san!
Yes?
Oh, ah, um...
So!
So?
Something I should say.
Something I have to say now.
Not getting down on my knees, but something I have to say to Hinagiku-san now.
That's...
W-What is it?
The difference between dolphins and whales is only in their size.
Heh?
So?
What? Well, so... I tried to cheer you up.
Trivia wasn't the thing to say.
So trivia is how you cheer people up?
Don't glare at people with such a cold stare that can kill.
The reason why I think of him...
I'm starting to think none of that even matters.
What is this?
Tomorrow's the Hinamatsuri, so I understand why you'd set the Hina dolls up, but you've got two females up on the top.
You mustn't touch them, Sakuya.
That's a cursed Hina doll.
If you touch and undo the seal by mistake, you'll cause big trouble.
A cursed Hina doll, eh?
You must especially not snap its neck off.
If you snap the head off, the seal will be undone and the unluckiest person in the neighborhood...
...will be struck with a fearsome curse!
Gosh!
Sorry!
What is this watch?
Nagi prepared it as Hinagiku-san's birthday present.
When my butler's giving her something, I, as your master, must give something, as well.
By the way, how much was it?
Only Â¥300,000.
I-I-I-I'm sorry! Because of me...
Yeah, really.
Because of you...
...though it's not that significant of a cost...
...it was an unnecessary expenditure.
Come now. You don't have to tease him so much just because him giving her a present aggravates you.
Fine.
But remember.
If it weren't for me, you'd be the unluckiest man in the whole universe.
What was that effect?
I don't know.
Maybe a mistake in effect directing.
Then I guess I'll...
...go back to cleaning the rooms.
Maria. I think I saw something really frightening.
Um... Maybe we're a little tired?
Hayate has gone through a sudden transformation.
He looks just like a maid.
More like, looks like nothing other than a maid.
Continuing to the second half while making you look forward to a fandom story.
What do you think, Maria?
What do I think? Well...
I can only think that something's sparked inside of him.
He looks good in it, so there really isn't a problem, but...
Anyway, it could be a complicated issue, so Nagi, go back to your room.
Okay, I'll leave it to you.
But, let him know that I don't mind it.
Um... Okay.
Hayate-kun.
Yes?
What is it, Maria-san?
Um... Have you ever felt you might be different from others?
For example, like...
Your taste in things?
My taste?
Let's see...
I think I'm completely normal.
But, even if someone has a taste different from others, I think they should be proud of it if they like it.
You have such a firm resolution?
Well, neither Nagi nor I mind at all, so...
Even if you like to wear clothes like that, we'll be...
W-WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!?!
Maria-san! Why did you make me wear a maid outfit?
I didn't do it!
You're so mean!
Looks like we're late.
It wasn't me.
You're right.
Isumi-san! And Sakuya-san, too.
Curse of the Hina doll?
Yes.
Long ago, a doll craftsman who yearned to crossdress worked at a castle.
And one day...
I made the man wear a female kimono!
That raised a big scandal, people saying it looked vulgar.
After that, his appropriation of funds was uncovered, as well, and the craftsman was beheaded.
"I wanted to wear a woman's kimono before I died."
His strong obsession turned into a curse and started to crossdress those with bad luck.
Appropriation? I can't sympathize with him much.
But, why a maid outfit of all things?
It's most likely the craftsman's taste.
He probably thought you'd look good in it.
Have to admit he's got good taste.
But we can't be enchanted.
We have to dispel the curse before the Hinamatsuri ends.
Otherwise what?
You will turn into a boy who likes to crossdress for the rest of your life.
That's a very iffy curse.
It is.
Is there a way to dispel the curse?
Yes, there is.
The female counterpart at the top of the exhibit,
in other words, you have to win a fight against the owner of the highest place in this area.
For example. This is only a hypothetical case.
This is 100%, 200%... no... much more unreal.
It can't possibly be true, but...
As one example case.
Let's say...
I'm in love with Hayate-kun.
SFX: Blush
I said IF! It's only a hypothetical.
Even if there's only a one in a trillion chance it's true,
I already promised that I'd support her.
So...
You seem very distressed.
You're...
The father from that event.
If you can see me, then I'll listen to your story like a father would do.
No, that's fine.
What a person can do in a lifetime is limited, so it's better to take action rather than worry.
Still, if you're not even sure what you're stressing over,
it's good to close your eyes and think.
If you are honest with your heart, you'll see what you have to do.
Be honest with your heart.
Well, would the highest place around here be Hakuou's...
It would be the Garden Gate.
Then the master of the exhibit would be...
Most probably the Student Council President.
Lucky you.
If it's someone you know, she'll probably lose on purpose if you explain the situation.
Yes. She's a very kind person, so I think it'll be fine.
Well, meeting her in these clothes is a little embarrassing,
and I don't want others to see me in this,
so maybe I'll have her come to the Student Council room at night.
But Hayate-kun. Tomorrow is one of Hakuou's five traditional events,
The Hinamatsuri Festival, so it'll be packed with people at night, too.
There'll be that many people?
Yes, quite alot.
The curse won't be lifted if I don't beat her at the top of the exhibit.
No.
But I can't stay dressed like this forever, so I'll do my best to return to normal.
But you know,
you look surprisingly good in it, so you don't have to force yourself.
Of course I have to do something!
But you're pretty popular like that.
True.
Please don't agree with them, Maria-san!
Plus, I've been wondering for a while now.
What do you have under the skirt?
Shoot.
Wh-What are you saying?
Well, you know...
Just a peek.
You're not going to lose anything from it!
If you do something like that, I'll...
Sorry, sorry. My bad.
Well, it is my fault this happened, so let me help out.
Yeah, Isumi-san?
Yes. I'll explain the story to the Student Council President.
Thank you very much.
I'm in serious trouble.
You're right. I understand what's going on, but...
But?
You didn't have to come up with such an unscientific excuse.
If you want to crossdress, then I won't...
No, no. You're not understanding the situation at all, Maria-san.
When you're tired, it's important to refresh your mind, too. Right?
No "right".
Oh no. If Hinagiku-san won't lose to me tomorrow, Maria-san will forever think I'm...
No, it'll be all right!
I'm sure Hinagiku-san will lose to me on purpose.
If I am honest with my heart, I will discover the cause of this distress.
Yes. If you clear your mind, you will see the answer.
What your heart truly wishes for.
What my heart wishes for.
What my...
...heart really wishes for.
I see it.
Do you?
Why didn't I notice something so simple much sooner?
People have a hard time acknowledging their true feelings.
But that's what love is.
It's because we haven't settled our score!
Score?
Yes. We haven't settled our score that got swept under the carpet.
I must have been distressed because we didn't settle that score.
SFX: Enlightenment
That's a new conclusion.
I see. I knew something was strange.
I must have been stressed because it was like he took the win without a fight.
That's it.
U-Um...
You're...
Um, I brought this from Hayate-sama.
What? A letter?
Yes. I won't be able to explain it well verbally, so I summarized the points in writing.
I see.
Let me see.
Um, please find out the details at the site.
SFX: Worry
I see. A challenge letter.
SFX: Worry
He sure is a butler of the Sanzenin.
He already knew what was on my mind.
No, it's not like that.
But I'll be the winner.
Let us both fight fairly.
SFX: Worry
No, um... We need you to lose, or else...
SFX: Worry
It's hard to realize or tell the true thoughts.
SFX: Worry
So March 3rd, the day of the Hinamatsuri Festival has come.
She's right. This is a pretty big event.
It's virtually impossible to get into the clock tower without being spotted by anyone.
Hey, what's with the getup?
Rather than that, where's Isumi?
I came since Isumi called me.
She did come with us, but...
She got lost after being separated from us for one cut.
SFX: Worry
She beat her personal record.
SFX: Worry
Also, what exactly is this Hinamatsuri Festival?
It looks a lot more fun when compared to the marathon meet.
All five major events can't be dangerous battles.
It's the reverse of Valentine's, and it's supposed to be an event for guys to ask girls out to dance and make memories.
It's also the last event of the school year, so it's the last chance to make fun memories.
"Last?"
For those who fail their final exams and get kicked out.
So it's a nasty event on the reverse.
Anyway, if I don't make it through here, I can't face tomorrow.
So I must go to the clock tower by nine!
What are you doing, Hayata-kun?
S-Segawa-san?
What's that cape?
Cosplaying something?
It's nothing.
I'm not trying to hide anything.
Hide?
Hayata-kun, you can't wear a coat in the middle of the summer.
It's still March.
What are you wearing under that?
Let me see!
You can't!
Why not?!
There he goes.
So what is it like under the cape?
D-Did I shake her off?
Damn it. All guys and girls are so merry just because it's a festival.
Could my destined one be anywhere out there?
Oh, I'm sorry!
That hurt.
My destined one is here.
What?
W-W-W-W-What is your name, Miss?!
What? Name?
My name is Ayasaki Ha-
Ayasaki Ha? Ha- what?
Well, it's...
I'm Ayasaki Hermione.
You have a name like a witch's.
Oh no. I never thought someone would actually catch me in this outfit.
Thankfully, he thinks I'm a girl, so lucky me.
But if he finds out that I'm a guy...
You'd be seen as a freak that comes to school at night crossdressed.
No. I can't let people think of me like that.
I have to free myself from the situation and get out of here.
I'm in a bit of a hurry.
Please wait!
Yes?
Ah, so...
Will you dance with me?
Never.
I must go now, so please pick another person.
You don't have to be so cold to me.
But that's also great!
Which exactly is it?
I'm serious!
I have fallen in love with you!
Tonight will be the day I say goodbye to this distress.
We'll settle this once and for all, Hayate-kun.
How will Hayate and Hinagiku's battle turn out?
In fact, will Hayate fight in his maid outfit?
The big night has only begun.
You know, that maid outfit looks good on you, Hayate.
I can't help being in this!
But if I can't get the curse lifted, I'll end up crossdressing forever.
You fool!
Humans have always yearned for and sought beauty!
It's ridiculous to cast away the beauty you possess without a second thought!
Why don't you realize that you're making us lose a treasure of the universe?
W-What have I been trying to do?!
As if!
Next time on Hayate no Gotoku. Cruel Big Foolish Guy's Thesis.
Hayate's turned into a more dangerous figure!